Influência de dois níveis de aleitamento na dieta de bezerras lactentes

Abstract

The productive performance of dairy animals is directly influenced by the management adopted throughout their creation. Efficiency in care and diet adequacy during the lactation phase are crucial measures for achieving success in the dairy activity. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of different levels of breastfeeding on zootechnical indices and the prevalence of diarrhea in suckling calves. The experiment was conducted at Leitaria Beger, a family property located in the municipality of Três Barras do Paraná. Four Holstein heifers submitted to artificial suckling, divided into two treatments, were evaluated. Animals receiving 4 and 8 liters of milk soon after colostrum delivery. In both treatments, the animals received solid diet consisting of starter and hay. During the experiment, the animals were submitted to fortnightly evaluations and remained in the evaluation period during breastfeeding (60 days), where the individual weight was measured and morphometric variables (withers height, body length and thoracic perimeter) of the animals were measured. Therefore, it was found that calves fed with 8L of milk a day had measurements and average daily gain (DM) higher than those fed with 4L of milk a day, which allowed these animals to practically double their weight until weaning performed at 60 days of life. Also, the high relationship between higher levels of milk intake and the incidence of diarrhea in the first days of life was investigated. Thus, it appears that higher levels of milk intake positively influence the zootechnical indicators of lactating calves, due to the increased intake of solids through liquid diet, which allows them to express the maximum of their genetic potential. However, they are also related to a higher prevalence of diarrhea.